On the Conference Finalists …
John Shannon: The conference finalists, a year ago …
Washington: Out after 2 Rounds.
Tampa Bay: Missed the Playoffs.
Winnipeg: Missed the Playoffs.
Vegas: Prepping for the Expansion Draft.
On Presidents Trophy winners …
Steve Kournianos: The last 10 President’s Trophy winners.
2018: Predators (Round 2)
2017: Capitals (Round 2)
2016: Capitals (Round 2)
2015: Rangers (Lost CF)
2014: Bruins (Round 2)
2013: Chicago (Won SCF)
2012: Canucks (Round 1)
2011: Canucks (Lost SCF)
2010: Capitals (Round 1)
2009: Sharks (Round 1)
On the Boston Bruins …
Joe Haggerty: GM Don Sweeney confirms that John Ferguson Jr. has interviewed for a couple of GM positions. He’s the only team coach or executive that is being pursued by other NHL teams.
On the Carolina Hurricanes …
Cory Lavalette: The Hurricanes have signed Morgan Geekie to a three-year entry-level deal. He’ll get $650,000, $700,000 and $700,000 in the NHL, $70,000 in the AHL and a $240,000 signing bonus.
On the Colorado Avalanche …
Colorado Avalanche: The Avs have signed defenseman Mark Alt to a two-year contract.
On the Nashville Predators …
Brooks Bratten: Coach Peter Laviolette said it was hard to pull Pekka Rinne but he felt that he didn’t have many options: “We just tried to put a pause in the game and send it in a different direction.”
Adam Vingan: Forward Mike Fisher missed last night’s game with a lower-body injury.
Austin Stanley of A to Z Sports Nashville: A source said that Fisher underwent surgery on his left knee on Wednesday to repair his meniscus. Fisher had left Monday’s game in the first period.
On the Washington Capitals …
Isabelle Khurshudyan of the Washington Post: Both Nicklas Backstrom and Andre Burakovsky are progressing from their upper-body injuries but their status for Game 1 tonight is not known. Coach Barry Trotz would only say that they are day-to-day.
Backstrom, who has a hand injury, skated on his own and did some light stickhandling.
Burakovsky has been out since Game 2 of the first round. He practiced with the team in a non-contact jersey on Wednesday but was wearing a regular jersey at practice yesterday.
“I expect when Andre is ready that he could give us a boost of enthusiasm,” Trotz said. “He’s a good player, and he’s been generally a pretty good player in the playoffs, so I’m hoping past experience and playoff excitement will push him forward when he gets the call.”